Establishment of the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s National Preventive Mechanism External experts and professional development During the preparations for Norway’s ratification of the OPCAT, it was concluded that the NPM might need to engage external experts in connection with some visits. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), for example, uses doctors, forensic experts, psychiatrists, sociologists and others who are not members of the CPT during its country visits. In 2014, the NPM evaluated its own expertise, surveyed the expertise available and assessed the need to engage such experts in connection with visits. It was concluded that the NPM has a particular need for specialists with expertise and experience in fields such as mental health, cognitive and physical disabilities, elderly care and child welfare. External experts will be temporarily incorporated into the NPM’s visit team for one or more visits and assist in the drafting of reports, provide expert advice and contribute to the NPM’s professional development. The advisory committee was asked to propose external experts for future visits. During the visit to Bergen prison in November, the NPM was assisted by a psychiatric nurse with extensive professional experience with prison healthcare. In 2014, the NPM aims to use external experts in connection with more visits. Professional development among the NPM team members has taken the form of attendance at conferences, seminars and courses in several of the sectors covered by the prevention mandate. These initiatives have also promoted information sharing among relevant experts, user groups and public agencies. 12. See for example the APT’s manuals, the CPT and SPT’s reports to responsible authorities after visits and reports by different supervisory bodies. Norway’s National Preventive Mechanism – Annual Report 2014 19